I’ve seen enough zombie movies to know that this is a terrible idea…
Biotech company Bioquark and it’s ReAnima project has been granted authorization and ethical permission to conduct experiments on 20 brain-dead patients to try and kickstart their brains back into working order, according to IFLScience. The idea here is that several different techniques, such as, “…injecting the brain with stem cells, giving the spinal cord infusions of beneficial chemicals, and nerve stimulation techniques” will all be tested to see if there is a way for people, “…at least partly [to] be brought back from the dead.”
So, let’s expand on this a bit. The 20 patients have been certified brain-dead and are only avoiding decomposition because they are hooked up to a variety of machines that keep their bodies going, even if their brain isn’t functioning. After treatments by ReAnima have been administered, these patients will be observed for several months to see if any neurological changes or activity is present. Specifically, the site writes that they will be focusing on the upper spinal cord, which is where the breathing and heart beat functions are controlled.
Bioquark CEO Ira Pastor explains, “It is a long-term vision of ours that a full recovery in such patients is a possibility, although that is not the focus of this first study. But it is a bridge to that eventuality.”
For more technical information, you can read more about the process here. Personally, I’m reminded of Fred Gwynne from Pet Sematary when he said, “Sometimes, dead is better!“
